Grampas Grass - Greener (2017)

Tracklist

01. On the Day I Die
02. Needs
03. You Are the One
04. Hold Our Position
05. Vampire Kings
06. Days Gone By
07. Stand Up
08. Wet Cement

Greener, the third album from Grampas Grass is a forty-eight minute euphoric thrill ride, serving as the band’s love letter to the sacred traditions of jam band music while ever breaking down barriers and carving out their own path.
One of the many things that makes Greener a great achievement is the band’s ability to infuse the jam band sensibility with lyrics about themes including marriage, parenthood, activism and the passage of time. What results is a singular experience in which the music offers all the exuberant joy of your favorite show with the thoughtful ruminations of a classic singer-songwriter album.
“Needs” is a memorable highlight, with guitarists John Malsberger and Brett Davis leaning into the influences of prog rock, as well as the great dual-guitar albums of 1970s. Organist Eric Lockhart is such a meaningful presence here, stalwart in his drive to infuse the music with sonic warmth while providing a Master Class in his instrument’s ability to take what everyone else in the band is doing and tie it all together.
“You Are The One” stands out as the song that would likely serve as the albums’ first single, if those still existed. The brilliance here is that it’s the only track that could otherwise serve as a mainstream pop/rock radio hit, save for the fact that the narrative is clearly documenting the courtship rituals of devout stoners. But that encapsulates what makes Greener special. The album captures Grampas Grass opening the party up to the widest possible audience, while always letting their own vision of the band serve as their north star.
“Vampire Kings”, the band’s pained meditation on the current state of politics in America, is the song that feels like it best serves the tradition of classic album cuts. The slower tempo gives drummer Richard Kaylor and percussionist Antoine Arvizu the chance to settle into and work a different groove, while letting Davis really shine as a bluesman. “Days Gone By” is one of the most immediately uplifting songs on Greener, propelled by Chis Schmoke’s lilting bassline placed right at the center of the mix. One of the great pleasures of the album is following what he’s contributing throughout the song. As it is on the whole album, he manages to be a compelling force in moving the groove forward and shaping the ecstatic feel of Greener.
One of the reasons the album feels so approachable is that it was obviously crafted with a staggering level of care. Seven musicians are ever making significant contributions without any one member ever feeling like they’re even tugging on the spotlight, much less stealing it. The entire enterprise feels so slickly produced without ever losing its sense of intimacy or playfulness. Credit is due here to Malsberger and Arvizu for their accomplishments as the albums’ co-producers.
While Lisa Malsberger’s vocal strength and resonance never waivers, with “On the Day I Die” and “Hold Our Position” also serving as among her most engaging tracks, her greatest vehicle and most resonate performance is arguably “Wet Cement”, the albums’ gospel-infused closer. As Lisa possesses a voice best known for communicating incredible soulfulness, it should be no surprise that it’s a perfect fit for leaning into Gospel, a musical tradition known for expressing superlative pain, hope and resilience. This is also a highlight for John Malsberger in his capacity as the band’s sole songwriter, both in the terms of how affecting many of the individual lyrics are, as well as the stunning impact of the narrative as a whole. This is the song that demands the most repeated listenings. It’s also the perfect example of an album cut that each fan could have an equally profound relationship with, while also having vastly different interpretations. Songs like this were why FM radio and late-night listening sessions were created.
Even in an apparently endless sea of jam bands, it’s well worth making room on your iPod for Grampas Grass. Their grass is green, their party is hopping, and there’s plenty of room on the dance floor - a place you’ll likely end up after listening to Greener.

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